“This is not your typical election. This is a more fundamental choice about who we are as a people."

Twelve years ago, Barack Obama introduced himself and his family to the nation at the Democratic National Convention, delivering the speech that would change the course of his political career. Since his election to the presidency in 2008, he's combatted a recession, signed health reform into law, and delivered "justice" to 9/11 "mastermind" Osama bin Laden. And at tonight's DNC, Obama not only endorsed Hillary Clinton for president, but also made Americans consider how November's election will allow them to reaffirm their values and decide how they want to identify as a nation for the next four years.

"My time in this office," Obama said, "hasn't fixed everything. As much as we've done, there's still so much I want to do." He detailed how his administration helped the automotive industry get back on its feet, ended the Iranian nuclear weapons program, legalized gay marriage, and made progress on climate change. "By so many measures our country is stronger and more prosperous than when we started." But though he is "more optimistic about the future of America than ever before," he realizes that Americans are frustrated by economic inequality, racism, and gun violence plaguing the country. As a leader, he acknowledged that "we've got more work to do," but the outcome of this election will influence the work ethic of the leaders orchestrating that progress.

"This is not your typical election," Obama said. "This is a more fundamental choice about who we are as a people. And whether we stay true to this American Experiment in self-government." He referenced the Declaration of Independence signed in 1776, a document establishing that the 13 colonies would be regarded as sovereign states, free from the tyranny of England. In doing so, Obama set up two choices for America: what he considers a return to tyranny through the election of Donald Trump, or the continuation of his administration's progress with Hillary Clinton.

"There is only one candidate in this race who believes in that future," he said, "a leader with real plans to break down barriers, blast through glass ceilings, and widen the circle of opportunity to every single American – the next President of the United States, Hillary Clinton." Offering a side-by-side comparison of the two candidates to illuminate the stark contrast between them, Obama detailed Donald Trump's qualifications for the presidency. "He's not really a 'plans' guy. Not really a 'facts' guy either," he said, as if he tasted something sour. The president alluded to Trump's history of lawsuits, unpaid workers, people who feel like they got cheated.

Not only did Obama illustrate the differences between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, but he also pointed out the differences he saw in how America was portrayed last week at the Republican National Convention and the way it's been depicted thus far at the Democratic National Convention. "What we heard in Cleveland last week wasn’t particularly Republican — and it sure wasn’t conservative," the president said, noting a "deeply pessimistic vision of a country where we turn against each other" and the rest of the world.

Obama also addressed the beauty of America's diversity, noting that practically everyone in the country is the descendant of an immigrant, "whether they wore a cowboy hat or a yarmulke; a baseball cap or a hijab." Those immigrants came to America in pursuit of the American Dream, and as Obama insinuated, erecting a wall to keep immigrants out (as Donald Trump has said he plans to do if elected) is simply un-American. Nor, as he said, is the American Dream "something [a] wall will ever contain."

"America has never been about what one person says he’ll do for us," Obama explained. "It’s always been about what can be achieved by us, together." In the face of the issues that divide the nation, he thinks Hillary Clinton is the person who can unify those with opposing ideologies. "Hillary knows we can work through racial divides in this country when we realize the worry black parents feel when their son leaves the house isn’t so different than what a brave cop’s family feels when he puts on the blue and goes to work; that we can honor police and treat every community fairly." But Obama chose to drive his point home by stating that Hillary has already been part of the presidential decision-making process in the Situation Room. She's already "forcefully argued in favor of the mission that took out bin Laden," he said.

"Democracy works, America, but we've got to want it," Obama explained. "You’ve got to get in the arena with her, because democracy isn’t a spectator sport. America isn’t about 'yes he will.' It’s about 'yes we can.'"

You may remember that "Yes We Can" was Obama's own campaign slogan back in 2008. The president also used the phrase "audacity of hope," which is the title of his 2006 book. By using his own trademarks next to Hillary's, he rhetorically demonstrated a marriage of their presidencies — as many Americans predicted, Obama's speech solidified Hillary as the person to continue his progress.

But while he was clearly casting Hillary Clinton as a face of hope in America, another source of hope surfaced in his address: the hope of the grassroots movement generated by Bernie Sanders. In a subtle but powerful nod to the Vermont senator and his fervent supporters, Obama basically said that the movement reinvigorated American political advocacy. But that's where the president called Americans to action: "If you want more justice in the justice system, then we’ve all got to vote — not just for a President, but for mayors, and sheriffs, and state’s attorneys, and state legislators." 2016 has been a wake-up call in many ways, but the President makes a point in saying we can't let this election pass without making a commitment to staying politically active.

Nearly every time the President mentioned Donald Trump, someone in the crowd booed him. Finally, Obama encouraged the crowd to be proactive: "Don't boo — vote."